Wanted: Good homes for cats as Little Falls shelter to close

With about a week left before the Community Animal Programs’ cat shelter is closed for good, program volunteer Caryl Hopson said the group still is seeking cat lovers to take in one or two of the 12 felines left.

“Our main focus right now is finding a home for our cats,” Hopson said. “It’s going to be those cat lovers (who) will take in the remaining shy, but sweet cats.”

With about a week left before the Community Animal Programs’ cat shelter is closed for good, program volunteer Caryl Hopson said the group still is seeking cat lovers to take in one or two of the 12 felines left.

“Our main focus right now is finding a home for our cats,” Hopson said. “It’s going to be those cat lovers (who) will take in the remaining shy, but sweet cats.”

For more than 10 years, the organization, affiliated with the Little Falls Family YMCA, has operated in the back of Valley Home Furnishings in Little Falls. But the store — operated by Larry Ortlieb, who also is the president of the group — will be relocating.

“It’s kind of a sudden thing, so we didn’t have any options to relocate,” Hopson said.

She said the thrift store also is closing because the landlord of the property asked them to vacate because there are other plans for the area.

“We’re in that situation where we’re asking for the help,” Hopson said.

Ortlieb said because of the economy and lack of business, he can’t afford to stay at 87 Church St.

“I’ve rented a smaller space and downsized a little bit and will move my store,” he said, noting he’ll be on Albany Street. “If we can make it work, it’ll be fine.”

The move, however, doesn’t include the shelter, so Hopson said volunteers have been searching for homes for the cats and selling many items from the thrift store.

The store will remain open until Saturday: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

There also are about 10 feral cats that will be taken in by volunteers, she said.

Through the years, the organization has taken in abandoned cats and kittens, yet Hopson said they started out as a spay-and-neuter assistance program.

“We’re coming back to where we began,” she said of the sudden change. “We’ll focus on money for spay and neuter to stop these cats from being abandoned.”

She said this year they’ve spayed or neutered more than 100 cats.

Hopson said the move didn’t come as a complete shock because the organization has been talking about downsizing for about half a year.

“If you do rescue, that’s all you’re going to do because it eats up your money,” she said.